Rail-bond.



T. HAULTONQ RAIL BOND.

APPLICATION FILED APR-22. I915.

I ,1 @6,57%. Patented June 13, 1916.

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RAIL BOND.

APPLICATION FILED APR.22,1915.

Patented June 13, 1916.

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THOMAS HAULTON, 0F WILKINSIBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-BOND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1916.

Application filed April 22, 1915. Serial No. 23,225.

To all whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, THOMAS IIAULTON, a citizen of the United States. residing at \Vilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State'of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Bonds; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates broadly to improvements in track equipment for railways, and more particularly to rail bonds for electrically connecting the meeting ends of the rails.

The object of the invention is to provide an extremely simple and inexpensive device of this class so constructed as to allow the attaching means therefor to replace two of the ordinary bolts at each joint.

With this general object in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts. as hereinafter fully described and claimed, several embodiments of the invention being illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a portion of a rail joint showing the application of one type of bond to use, a portion of this bond being disclosed in horizontal section; F ig. 2 is a vertical transverse section as seen on the plane indicated by the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bond as manufactured; Figs. 4 and 5 are detail vertical sections as seen on the planes indicated by the lines H and 5 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but-disclosing the applicationof a differently constructed bond to the joint;

Fig.- 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view as seen on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the type of bond shown in Figs. 6 and 7; Fig. 9 is a detail vertical section as seen on the plane designated by the line 99 of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Figs. 1 and 6 and disclosing the application of a third form of bond to use.

In Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the numerals 1 designate a pair of spaced parallel bolts having their opposite ends threaded while terminal plates 3 to which tapered tubular,

plugs 1 are integrally united, said plates as well as their plugs 4, being brazed or otherwise permanently secured to the bolts and the enlargements 2 thereon. By reference more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that the plugs at extend from the plates 3 in directions opposite to the enlargements 2, the reason for this being hereinafter more fully explained. Furthermore, as likewise most clearly disclosed in these figures, the terminal plates 3 are provided with integral sleeves 3" in which the opposite ends of the bonding cable or wire 5 is anchored, preferably by casting said sleeves around the ends of said wire, although any other suitable connections could be provided at these points.

In applying the invention to use, the bolts 1 are inserted through two of the openings 6 in the meeting ends of the rails 7 to an extent to allow the tapered plugs 4 to enter said openings, whereupon fish plates 8 and 9 are applied to the opposite sides of the rails and securedin position by the usual bolts not shown). It is to be observed that when the fish plate 9 is applied. the elliptical' openings 10 thereof receive the oval enlargements 2 of the bolts 1, thus holding said bolts against rotation. Nuts 11 are now threaded on one end of the bolts 1 to force the fish plate '8 toward the rails 7 and to pull said bolts in. a direction to force the tapered plugs 4 tightly into the openings 6, resilient lock washers 12 being preferably interposed between said fish plate 8 and the nuts 1]. as clearly disclosed in Fig. 1. Ad ditional nuts 13 are now threaded on the other end of the bolts 1, thus disposing the fish plate 9 to active position. It is essential however, that the nuts 11 be tightened before the nuts 13, since otherwise the plugs 4 would. not be forced into binding contact with the walls of the openings 6.

When the improved bond is applied in the manner just described, the current in the rails will travel from one to the other thereof through the plugs 4, the terminal plates 3, the sleeves 3 thereof, and the bonding wires 5, all parts of the invention electrically contacting with other parts, being preferably heavily tinned for preventing oxidation.

In Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, a slightly different form of construction is shown in which the bolts 1 are provided with external oval enlargements 2' identical with those previously designated at 2, while in this type of the invention, tapered plugs 4 which correspond to the tapered plugs 4, are formed, integrally with or otherwise secured to said bolts, these plugs being shown as continuing from the inner ends of the enlargements 2 (see more particularly Figs. (3, 8 and 9). In this form of the invention, the terminal plates 3 are provided with internal shoulders receiving the inner ends of the plug members 4:, said plates being brazed or otherwise secured to said members and to the enlargements 2' and being provided with necks 3 in which the opposite ends of a pair of bonding wires 5 are anchored in any preferred manner.

The form of the invention just described, is applied to use in identically the same manner as the type first described, addi tional exposition being therefore deemed unnecessary.

Fig. 10 discloses yet another type of the invention in which the bolts 1 are provided with comparatively small enlargements or external shoulders 2 intermediate their ends, the terminals 3 being cast around these enlargements and being formed integrally with the tapered plugs 4 the plates 3 being provided with necks or the like for the attachment of the binding wire 5 This type of the invention is likewise applied to use in the manner previouslyset forth.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that very simple construction has been provided for the at tainment of the desired end, that the several types of the invention may be easily and inexpensively manufactured, may be readily applied to use by unskilled laborers, and will be highly efficient when so applied, serving not only as means to electrically connect the meeting ends of the rails, but

replacing two of the bolts ordinarily used at the rail joints.

If the nuts on the bonding bolts should become loosened, the spring washers 12 will exert their tension to retain the tapered plugs in binding contact with the walls of the openings 6, thus retaining these parts in electrical contact under ordinary conditions, and. if the plugs become worn by excessive use, tightening of certain of the nuts on the bolts will again dispose said plugs into such electrical contact with the walls of the openings.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described coniprising a pair of terminal plates. :1 bond connecting the same, and a bolt passing through each of said plates, the two bolts having their opposite ends extended in opposite directions from the terminal plates and threaded.

2. A device of the class described comprising a pair of bolts threaded at their opposite ends and having external enlargements disposed at their intermediate portions, terminals formed around said enlargements, and a bond connecting the two terminals.

3. A device of the class described comprising a pair of spaced parallel bolts, and a bond secured at its ends to the intermediate portions thereof, the opposite ends of said bolts being threaded to allow them to be passed through the openings in the meeting ends of railway rails and through the openings in the fish plates on opposite sides of such ends, without disconnecting the bond and bolts.

4. A device of the class described comprising a pair of spaced parallel bolts, and a bond permanently secured at its ends to the intermediate portions of the two bolts, whereby the bond and bolts become in effect a single unit, the opposite ends of the bolts being threaded for reception in the openings in the meeting ends of railway rails and in the openings in the fish plates adjacent the opposite sides of such ends.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS IIAULTONV \Vitnesses W. W. GILLETT, J. F. BOYD. 

